782
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 30

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of March, 1936. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 61·3°; and at 3 ft., 62·3°. Number of rain days, 13. Total rainfall, 45 per cent. above normal. Sunshine, 51 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 48·3°; mean vapour pressure, 0·338 in.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces 4 to 7. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm.

| 15 | 4 | 14 | 54 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 1/2 | 7 | 1 |

NOTE.—The coldest March ever experienced in Wellington. Light hail fell on the afternoons of the 3rd and 29th.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MARCH, 1936.

General.—March was a cold month with several very stormy periods. Over much of the North Island there was a dearth of sunshine, and while the South had an ample amount its effects were largely offset by the cold winds. Though not nearly so much so as February, the month was a wet one in most districts, and there are few in which the soil is really dry. Vegetation is very green, but growth has not been vigorous and fruiting and flowering processes have been checked. Feed is abundant and stock are reported to be in good condition. Pastures are, however, rank and soft, and lambs still fail to fatten well. The management of pastures in the winter promises to be difficult and the effect of parasites is feared. The milk yield appears, on the whole, to be well maintained, though in Taranaki cold winds had a deleterious effect. Little progress has been made with the harvesting of the wheat crop, much of which is now in the stack. In Canterbury there was considerable sprouting of both standing and stocked wheat. The situation regarding root-crops varies considerably from district to district, growth being poor and pests numerous in some, while in others the reports are favourable. Supplies of feed for the winter, however, seem fairly well assured. A certain amount of haymaking still continued in the North Island. White butterflies are numerous in many places.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was again very heavy in the northern portion of the Auckland Peninsula. It was much above normal also in the Bay of Plenty, East Coast, south central regions, and the South Taranaki Bight. Elsewhere in the North Island it was below normal. In the South Island conditions were variable in western districts and about the main ranges generally, but elsewhere the month was a very wet one. Large areas of Canterbury had three times the average fall.

Temperature.—Temperatures were everywhere below normal. In the far North the departures were small, but they increased to the southward and were greater on the east coast than on the west. In Marlborough and the interior of Canterbury and Otago many places had mean temperatures upwards of 4° below the average for March. For the country as a whole it was one of the coldest Marches hitherto experienced. Frosts were not particularly numerous or severe.

Sunshine.—There was much less sunshine than usual in most of the North Island though the Bay of Plenty and Wellington fared well enough. In the South Island all reports indicate more than the normal amount, and in most cases the excess was considerable. It was too late in the year, however, for the sun to be sufficiently powerful to make up for the previous deficit, especially with the cold winds which ruled.

Storm Systems.—On the night of the 2nd to the 3rd a depression which had been shallow when it crossed the country deepened very much while to the eastward. In consequence, southerly gales blew and heavy rain fell over the South Island and across Cook Strait to the southern portion of the North. Snow fell on the ranges and a tornado was reported near Tauranga on the 3rd.

Following this, an intense anticyclone moved on to the Dominion and fine weather ruled for several days. On the night of the 6th to 7th, however, a depression moved from the north to the vicinity of East Cape and, though shallow, it caused very heavy rain between Hawke’s Bay and East Cape and, in places, severe flooding.

Following the passage of an innocuous depression on the 7th, pressure again fell rapidly to the east of New Zealand on the 8th and continued low until the 11th. Gales from between west and south were experienced at many places, and heavy rain was almost general. The falls were particularly heavy in eastern districts of the South Island and widespread floods occurred; Canterbury and Banks Peninsula fared the worst. There were heavy snowfalls on the high levels.